Framed by the cliff scenery of north Yell, the sandy beach at Breckon is one of the island’s highlights. It holds a Seaside Award from Keep Scotland Beautiful and has been highly rated by visitors. Although the bay is open to the Atlantic, the beach is well sheltered from most wind directions and the dunes provide an infinite variety of picnic places on good days. The sand, a mixture of rock and shell particles, is piled deep and shelves quite steeply.
There’s plenty of interest around this area, too. The nearby cliff-tops offer good walking and great views. Botanically, the area is rich, with more than 80 species of plants recorded. Archaeological remains suggest that the area has been settled for at least 4,000 years. There is evidence of Viking and Iron Age settlement and a number of interesting finds have included pottery, Viking combs made from bone and even Roman coins. However, many people will simply want to relax and absorb Breckon’s simple peace and beauty.